Safe Driving for Teens

Learning to drive can be scary and it is important that we stay safe while learning to drive and driving alone. The most important aspect of keeping teens safe is parents helping and teaching them good habits.

According to a study supported by the General Motors Foundation, when parents and teens discuss rules for driving and come to a formal agreement, whether spoken or written, teens are less likely to engage in risky behavior while driving.

Here are some more tips that we should implement in our lives, no matter how old we are:

1. Always wear a seatbelt: We should always be wearing a seatbelt no matter what car we are in and even in the backseat. If you wear a seatbelt, those around you are more likely to wear one.
   

2. Make a rule for no drinking and driving: There is no safe amount of alcohol a teenager can drink before driving, or anyone for that matter. Having inexperience behind the wheel and a drink can lead to very bad consequences. It is also against the law.

3. Limit the number of people allowed in your car: The number of passengers in the car is correlated to car crashes: the more people, the higher the risk. This is especially important when you are first driving. Try to limit the amount of people in the car to 4, including the driver.

4. Teach good habits such as no speeding: Make sure you are following the speed limits and you are always a passenger with someone who does not speed. Speeding is also one of the biggest causes for car crashes.

5. Do not be on your phone when driving: Anything that takes the driver's eyes off the road is a distraction and it is important to eliminate them. Do not be on your phone or changing the music when you are driving.

6. Try not to drive at night: When practicing with your parents, it is important to drive at night. Conditions vary and the road can look very different at night. It is necessary that we get used to this before driving at night alone. Teens are three times more likely to crash at night, so adults should also be preventing this through rules.

7. Teach what to do in case of a car crash: Being informed about what to do when you get into a car crash is essential to know in case of an emergency. Always call the police. To find more information on this, ask your parents, an adult, or on google.